The Origins of Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll music started in the 1950s in the United States and in Britain. In the U.S. it evolved from several different types of music which had been around for a while. They were Blues, Gospel Music and Country Music. Elvis Presley was a big rock and roll star who began his career in the late 50s, and he started out singing gospel music. In Britain, early rock and roll music was called "Skiffle music" and it also had its origins in blues, with an African American influence.
It was a Cleveland, Ohio radio DJ called Alan Freed who came up with the name "rock and roll", although the phrase had been used in some blues hits before that. The name links the music with its gospel music origins, as people at church services would sometimes shake and dance while they sang lively and stirring religious songs.
Early Rock and Roll Stars Here are some early US performers. You can click on each picture to find out more about them:
JERRY LEE LEWIS
BUDDY HOLLY
ELVIS PRESLEY
CHUCK BERRY
LITTLE RICHARD
Early British performers:
(Click on their names to hear song samples)
The Origins of Rock and Roll
Rock and Roll music started in the 1950s in the United States and in Britain. In the U.S. it evolved from several different types of music which had been around for a while. They were Blues, Gospel Music and Country Music. Elvis Presley was a big rock and roll star who began his career in the late 50s, and he started out singing gospel music. In Britain, early rock and roll music was called "Skiffle music" and it also had its origins in blues, with an African American influence.
It was a Cleveland, Ohio radio DJ called Alan Freed who came up with the name "rock and roll", although the phrase had been used in some blues hits before that. The name links the music with its gospel music origins, as people at church services would sometimes shake and dance while they sang lively and stirring religious songs.
Early Rock and Roll Stars
Here are some early US performers. You can click on each picture to find out more about them:
Early British performers:
(Click on their names to hear song samples)
Take a virtual tour of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland, Ohio, to meet more performers.